The future of the beloved Dead Space franchise remains uncertain, as reports indicate that EA has placed the series “on ice” despite developers at Motive Studio exploring ideas for a new entry in the sci-fi horror franchise.
According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Motive – the team behind the recent acclaimed Dead Space remake – had been working on conceptualizing a new Dead Space game early last year. However, these plans were never greenlit by EA, and the studio has since shifted its focus to other projects, including an Iron Man game and the next Battlefield title.
The news comes after a flurry of rumors and speculation surrounding the future of Dead Space. Earlier this week, it was reported that a remake of the series’ second installment, Dead Space 2, was in development at Motive. However, both EA and Schreier have since refuted these claims, stating that the codename being used was meant to describe the team’s general plans for the Dead Space IP, not a specific remake project.
Schreier explained that while Motive did explore the possibility of remaking Dead Space 2, as well as creating an entirely new entry in the series, neither of these ideas were ultimately greenlit by the publisher. Instead, the Dead Space team has been largely reassigned to other titles over the past year, leaving the fate of the franchise uncertain.
This is not the first time the Dead Space series has found itself in limbo. After the release of the divisive third installment in 2013, developer Visceral Games was shuttered, and the series was put on hold. It wasn’t until 2021 that EA announced a ground-up remake of the original Dead Space, which was widely praised upon its release.
Let me clear this up: Motive used the same code name to describe *whatever project* that the Dead Space team was working on next, hence the confusion on Jeff's part.
It was never really a Dead Space 2 remake, and for nearly a year it's had nothing to do with Dead Space https://t.co/Z3YKPhrRlh
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) April 11, 2024
The renewed interest in the Dead Space IP had led many fans to hope that the franchise was poised for a comeback. However, these latest reports suggest that EA’s priorities lie elsewhere, with the company focusing its development resources on high-profile projects like the Iron Man game and the next entry in the Battlefield series.
While the Dead Space remake’s commercial performance may have played a role in EA’s decision, the series’ devoted fanbase remains hopeful that the publisher will eventually greenlight a new installment or, at the very least, a remake of the acclaimed second game. For now, however, it appears that the future of the Dead Space franchise remains in limbo, much to the disappointment of horror enthusiasts and sci-fi fans alike.
